Thermochemical generation of hydrogen and oxygen from water

Abstract

A thermochemical cyclic process for the production of hydrogen exploits the reaction between sodium manganate (NaMnO2) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) to form sodium titanate (Na2TiO3), manganese (II) titanate (MnTiO3) and oxygen. The titanate mixture is treated with sodium hydroxide, in the presence of steam, to form sodium titanate, sodium manganate (III), water and hydrogen. The sodium titanate-manganate (III) mixture is treated with water to form sodium manganate (III), titanium dioxide and sodium hydroxide. Sodium manganate (III) and titanium dioxide are recycled following dissolution of sodium hydroxide in water.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for producing hydrogen comprising reacting manganese (II) titanate with sodium hydroxide, in the presence of steam, to yield sodium titanate, sodium manganate (III), water and hydrogen. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein the steam is at a temperature of about 300°-650° C.